Dengue fever kills 21 Cambodian kids last year, down 64 pct

At least 21 Cambodian children had been killed by dengue fever last year, a decrease of 64 percent from 59 deaths in 2013, local newspaper reported Wednesday.

Some 3,724 dengue fever cases had been reported last year, down 79 percent from 17,533 cases in a year earlier, Khmer Times reported, citing figures from the National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control.

The center's director Huy Rekol said the number of epidemic and fatal cases of dengue fever was at its lowest level over the past 10 years.

"Cambodian people receive more education in the community, while children get educated at school about protection and prevention from dengue fever," he said.

Despite the remarkable decrease of reported cases last year, the center would continue its efforts to prevent the disease, he added.

Dengue fever is a viral disease transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. The disease causes an acute illness of sudden onset that usually follows symptoms such as headache, fever, exhaustion, severe muscle and joint pain, swollen glands, vomiting and rash.

In Cambodia, the outbreak of dengue fever usually begins at the beginning of the rainy season in May and lasts until October. Endi